A frequently debated topic by NBA fans is which are the best teams to not have won the championship. This 2-part series will rank the top 10. The regular season metric used to rank teams is SRS (simple rating system) from basketball-reference. Net rating measures points scored per 100 possessions – opponent points per 100 possession, and this is a modified net rating that is adjusted for the strength of opponents. All regular season teams in history were considered, and surprisingly, many of these teams didn’t even make the finals; one even lost in the first round. See how many you can guess before reading ahead.

 

10. 1972-73 Los Angeles Lakers (SRS: 8.16)

Regular Season Record: 60-22 (2nd Seed in Western Conference)

Playoffs: Lost in Finals to New York Knicks (4-1)

Starting Lineup:

PG Jerry West: 22.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 8.8 apg

SG Gail Goodrich: 23.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.4 apg

SF Jim McMillian: 18.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.7 apg

PF Bill Bridges: 9.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.7 apg

C Wilt Chamberlain: 13.2 ppg, 18.6 rpg, 4.5 apg

What happened:

The Lakers were defending champions, and they kept their core intact. They competed for best record in the Western Conference with the Milwaukee Bucks, and both teams finished with 60–22 records, and splitting their regular season matchups 3-3. At the time, the NBA had no tiebreaking procedure beyond head to head record. In a special league meeting, a tiebreaker game was proposed, but the players’ union intervened and demanded the players be paid an extra 1/82 share of the salaries. The owners objected, and the tie was broken by a coin flip, which was won by Milwaukee.

The Lakers faced the Chicago Bulls in the Conference Semifinals, having beaten them in seven games in 1971 and swept them in 1972. The Lakers won a close seven game series, overcoming a double digit deficit in the 4th quarter of game 7.

In the Conference Finals, the Lakers had expected to face the top-seeded Bucks for a third straight post season, but the Warriors had defeated them in a six-game upest the previous round. The Lakers won comfortably in five games.

In the Finals, the Lakers faced a New York Knicks team that had defeated the 68-win Celtics. In 1972, the Lakers had beaten the Knicks in the finals, losing game 1 and then winning four straight. This time it was the exact opposite, with the Lakers winning game 1 but losing the series in 5. Games 2, 3, and 4 were all within 5 points.

Overall, the Lakers played well in the playoffs, but the were outplayed in the Finals.

 

9. 2017-18 Houston Rockets (SRS: 8.21)

Regular Season Record: 65-17 (1st Seed in Western Conference)

Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference Finals to Golden State Warriors (4-3)

Starting Lineup:

PG Chris Paul: 18.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 7.9 apg

SG James Harden: 30.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 8.8 apg

SF Trevor Ariza: 11.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.6 apg

PF PJ Tucker: 6.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.9 apg

C Clint Capela: 13.9 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 0.9 apg

What Happened:

Having several consecutive seasons end in playoff disappointments, the Rockets took a risk to upgrade their team before the season by trading for star point guard Chris Paul. Led by league MVP James Harden and coached by Mike D’Antoni, the Rockets ran a “small-ball” system where the tried to only shoot three point shots and layups. They won 65 games in the regular season, earning the #1 overall seed in the NBA.

In the First Round, the Rockets defeated the 8th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, with relative ease. They again won comfortably in five games against the Utah Jazz in the Conference Semifinals.

The real challenge came in the Conference Finals against the defending champion Golden State Warriors, the team that Houston had built itself to defeat. They started with losses in games 1 and 3. On the verge of falling behind 3-1, they had a double-digit fourth quarter comeback win in game 4, handing the Warriors their first home playoff loss in two years. The Rockets would win game 5 as well, earning a 3-2 lead. However, Chris Paul would be injured in the final minutes. After losing game 6, the series would be decided in a highly anticipated game 7. The Rockets led by 15 late in the second quarter, but with a chance to make the finals, the Rockets went on a record cold-streak, missing 27 straight 3-point shots, and losing the game by nine.

Some fans will say that the failure was due to Chris Paul’s injury, but more than anything else, the Rockets choked.

 

8. 1990-91 Portland Trail Blazers (SRS: 8.47)

Regular Season Record: 63-19 (1st Seed in Western Conference)

Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference Finals to Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)

Starting Lineup:

PG Terry Porter: 17.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 8.0 apg

SG Clyde Drexler: 21.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 6.0 apg

SF Jerome Kersey: 14.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 3.1 apg

PF Buck Williams: 11.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.2 apg

C Kevin Duckworth: 15.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.1 apg

What happened:

The Portland Trail Blazers started off hot, winning their first 11 games on their way to a earning a 27–3 record midway through the season. They also finished strong, having a 16-game winning streak near the end of the regular season, which helped them achieve a league best 63–19 record.

The Trail Blazers had a close 3–2 win in the First Round against the Seattle SuperSonics, and after defeating the Utah Jazz in five games, they reached the Conference Finals where they would play the third-seeded Los Angeles Lakers. The Trail Blazers had the home-court advantage, but they lost game 1 at home. The rest of the games were won by the home team. Portland had the chance to force a home game 7 if they won game 6, and despite rallying back from a 15-point deficit, Terry Porter missed a shot in the final seconds, ending the game 91-90. The Lakers would lose to the Bulls in the Finals.

Portland performed well in the playoffs, but they were ultimately outplayed in the Conference Finals.

 

7. 1993-94 Seattle SuperSonics (SRS: 8.68)

Regular Season Record: 63-19 (1st Seed in Western Conference)

Playoffs: Lost in First Round to Denver Nuggest (3-2)

Starting Lineup:

PG Gary Payton: 16.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.0 apg

SG Kendall Gill: 14.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.5 apg

SF Detlef Schrempf: 15.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.4 apg

PF Shawn Kemp: 18.1 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.6 apg

C Sam Perkins: 12.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.4 apg

What happened:

The Seattle SuperSonics got off to a fast start winning their first ten games and reaching a 26–3 record midway through the season. They also finished strong, winning 17 of their final 19, ending the season  as the #1 seed in the Western Conference with 63–19 record, and made the Playoffs.

In the First Round, Seattle faced the 8th-seeded Denver Nuggets. They won the first two games comfortably at home, taking a 2–0 lead in the series. However, the Nuggets won the next two games on their home court, leading to a winner-take-all game 5 in Seattle. The game was close throughout, but the Nuggets pulled away in the last minute, winning 98-94. After catching the final rebound, Nuggets Center Dikembe Mutumbo laid on the floor, clinching the ball over his head. This was one of the most iconic photos in NBA history, and is the feature photo of this post.

In short, the 7th best regular season team of all time choked a 2-0 lead and became the first team to lose in the First Round against an 8th-seed.

 

6. 2008-09 Cleveland Cavaliers (SRS: 8.68)

Regular Season Record: 66-16 (1st Seed in Eastern Conference)

Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference Finals to Orlando Magic (4-2)

Starting Lineup:

PG Mo Williams: 17.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.1 apg

SG Delonte West: 11.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.5 apg

SF LeBron James: 28.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 7.2 apg

PF Anderson Varejão: 8.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.0 apg

C Zydrunas Ilgauskas: 12.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.0 apg

What happened:

In the regular season, the Cleveland Cavalier finished with the NBA’s number one overall record: 66-16. They were mainly carried by LeBron James, who led the team in points, rebounds, and assists.

The Cavaliers blazed through the first two rounds of the playoffs, sweeping the Detroit Pistons in the First Round and sweeping the Atlanta Hawks in the Conference Semifinals. In the Conference Finals, they faced the Orlando Magic. LeBron James dominated the series just like he had been doing all year, averaging 38.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 8.0 apg. He would also hit an all-time great buzzer-beater 3-pointer in Game 2. However, the Magic would hit their own game-winning 3-pointer in Game 1, and they were clutch in a 2-point overtime win in game 4. The Magic won the series 4-2, and lost in the Finals to the Lakers.

Given the expectations that everyone had for the Cavaliers, the failure to reach the Finals has to be considered a choke, although it clearly wasn’t LeBron’s fault.

 

Make sure to check out part 2 next.